What began as a joyful family outing to the beach in Melbourne quickly turned into an unnerving experience after one family noticed a frightening detail in the background of their photographs. The family, eager to capture memories of their day, had spent hours playing in the sand, building sandcastles, and letting their young daughter splash in the shallow waves at Carrum Beach. Unbeknownst to them, a mysterious shape appeared behind them in one of the photos, transforming a cheerful memory into a moment of anxiety.
The image, taken by the mother to preserve the family’s first beach outing, featured a father and his young daughter smiling and waving at the camera, completely unaware of what was lurking a few feet behind them in the water. Initially, the family did not notice anything unusual, but upon returning home and reviewing the photos more closely, their excitement turned to alarm. A strange, shadowy figure appeared in the shallow water just behind them, prompting immediate concern.
Once the photo was shared online, it quickly captured public attention and sparked a heated debate over what the shape might be. Social media users were divided: some believed it was a shark, while others argued it was merely a trick of the waves or shadows in the water. The image began circulating widely in 2023, and its resurgence in recent years has once again ignited discussions across social media platforms, attracting hundreds of comments, shares, and theories.
Local authorities had already issued warnings about the presence of sharks in the area that day. The State Emergency Service (SES) Chelsea posted a notice on Facebook alerting beachgoers that a shark had been sighted between Bonbeach and Chelsea. In their post, they explained that the family had contacted them after realizing something unusual had appeared in their beach photos. The post read:
“We posted about a shark sighting just off the beach, between Bonbeach and Chelsea. Later, we received a message from a family who were at Carrum Beach earlier that morning. It was their little one’s first visit to the beach, and the gentleman’s partner took several photos to record the day. When they reviewed the pictures at home, they noticed something in the shallow water just behind them. Could this be our shark?”
The post went viral almost immediately, with social media users dissecting the photograph and offering their own opinions. Some questioned the size and depth, noting that the water appeared shallow and the dog in the photo seemed unaffected by the presence of a large predator. One user commented, “It couldn’t be a very big shark, given the size of the dog and the depth of the water,” while another added, “Looks a bit shallow for a shark with a fin that size. Wouldn’t the other people behind them have noticed something in the water?” A third contributor noted, “It’s unlikely that a shark cruising so close to shore would go completely unnoticed by those in the photo.”
Authorities from the Victoria Fisheries Authority (VFA) and Life Saving Victoria were unable to confirm the exact identity of the creature in the photograph. However, experts in marine life offered more plausible explanations. Professor Charlie Huveneers, Research Leader of the Southern Shark Ecology Group, stated that the shape most likely did not belong to a shark. According to him, the photo’s quality made it difficult to be certain, but the form appeared more consistent with the wing of a Southern Eagle Ray rather than a shark’s dorsal fin. Southern Eagle Rays, considered near-threatened, are native to southern Australian waters and are occasionally spotted in shallow coastal areas near beaches, as well as around New Zealand.
The unsettling discovery of the shadowy figure came just days after a separate shark sighting off Aldinga Beach, south of Adelaide, where fishermen captured footage of a massive great white shark estimated to be approximately 13 feet long, circling their boat. These incidents have served as reminders from local authorities that beachgoers should remain vigilant, especially in areas known for marine wildlife activity. Despite the eventual explanation provided by experts, the image continues to provoke curiosity, fascination, and even fear, demonstrating how a simple family outing can unexpectedly intersect with the mysteries of the natural world.
For the family in the photo, the day that began with laughter and excitement became a story they would share for years — a chilling yet unforgettable memory of the moment when a seemingly ordinary photograph captured the extraordinary presence of marine life just beyond their reach. Across Australia, the image continues to spark conversations about wildlife, human interaction with the ocean, and the thin line between awe and anxiety when faced with the unknown beneath the waves. It serves as a vivid reminder that even in familiar settings, nature can surprise us, and a single photograph can ignite curiosity, concern, and wonder in equal measure.